Roadcraft category

[streido]

Also watch for cyclists sneeking up the inside when you stop at junctions or are filtering slowly thro a stopped line of traffic, i almost hit one who shot up behind me as i pulled out the other week 

[Peters]

No filtering in the US. Wish we could 

[streido]

No filtering in the US. Wish we could 

Wtf 

So its illegal to filter thro stopped traffic queues over there

Doesnt that defeat the purpose of buying a scoot/bike to avoid city traffic queues? May as well be in a car

Here its legal to filter, its also legal to go onto the opposite side of the road to go up the outside of a long stationary queue of traffic, as long as nothing is coming at you in the opposite direction (you just cut in and stop if someone does come towards you). It is illegal to blast thro the middle of stopped queues at high speed cos that is dangerous, but slow 5-10mph filtering is fine.

[Vivo]

Here, it's being done also not because it's legal but because people just do it because it's common sense.... if there's a space, and your bike can fit.. then proceed.. if not, stop...

[bootscooterboogie]

Here, it's being done also not because it's legal but because people just do it because it's common sense.... if there's a space, and your bike can fit.. then proceed.. if not, stop...

Here in my part of Indiana, you can lane split (which is what I think you're calling "lane filtering") as long as traffic is stopped.

[streido]

Yeah, lane splitting or weaving slowly in between stationary traffic is considered filtering here, as long as it is at low speed and not dangerous to pedestrians or other vehicles.

[ScooterWolf]

The legality of lane splitting varies from state to state and city to city. I'm not a big fan of it because it does expose you to danger, or if you are hit or hit another vehicle, the fault could be yours. That translates to money -- something I don't have a lot to throw around.

I can see the urge to do it, especially if you are moving slow, but in this age of cell phones and texting -- distracted drivers -- the risk of injury is greater.

In the states (at least in NJ) it's also illegal for two vehicles to occupy the same lane. At a stop sign, or light If a car moves into the same lane you are because you are on the far right, or left of your lane it's illegal. You have every right to tell them to back off because it puts you in danger. This has happened to me at a highway merger with a yield sign. As I wait for a break in traffic a car will often pull along side me to merge in. If we both take off at the same time and attempt to pull into the same lane you can guess which one of us will get the worst of it.

- Wolf

[Peters]

Not to mention most American drivers would get road rage because you squeezed in between them at a stop light. Somebody raging in 3-1/2 tons of Cadillac Escalade trying to run me and my scooter off the road is not something I want to encounter.  I won't do it just on that fact alone. It's just not road etiquette over here. And, for the most part I don't argue with that. Most scooters only go 40 mph at best and take forever to get there. So yeah, I'd be pissed too if a scooter got in front of me in my car at a stop light on a road with a 45 mph speed limit.

The only exception I can justify is if you're taking a right on red. Taking a right on red is legal in NC as long as there's no sign saying not to. There was a thread a while ago talking about this. Passing stopped cars on the right side to turn right, however, is not legal from what I hear. But most cops won't pull you for it. Even still, I've done it and had people give me dirty looks. Not only that, a guy in a Mercedes saw me in his mirror coming up on his right and actually cut his wheels to the right and tried to close the gap between him and the curb. Lol, I just popped the curb and went around him. What an asshole 

I could see scooters filtering in a big city though. 20 mph speed limit... Couple hundred feet to the next light... Yeah, that does make sense.

People get mad here because scooters park in a parking space at the grocery store. It's ridiculous. No motorcycle spaces, they're all the same size. What am I supposed to do? Guess I could just ride right into the store 

[streido]

I do it every day. Only in stationary traffic queues tho, not moving traffic, and will never pull into the front of a queue if its on a hill or i knkw i will hold up traffic once the light change. I do it on the same roads every day after work, 30mph limits, and always speed away a lot faster than everyone else when it turns to green. Folk here tend to daydream at red lights and are rarely ready to move as soon as it goes green, apart from me 

Its all totally legal, i know because i asked last week on my training day out, instructor said "Yeah, of course its legal. Why do you think so many city commuters buy bikes and scooters?".

[fshfindr]

One of the first things I learned was to take charge in my lane.  Turning into my street coming home from the gym, I naturally moved to the right to make a right turn.  A car shot past me very close and scared the sit out of me.  Now I take the left side of my lane to make a right turn.  It sounds strange but it works.  

[fshfindr]

If you don't have blinking brake lights, get them.  It is amazing how far from me cars stop at a red light or even a stop sign.   

[streido]

If you don't have blinking brake lights, get them.  It is amazing how far from me cars stop at a red light or even a stop sign.   

That IS illegal over here   

Watch your position Fshfindr cos i know here if i did that a car WOULD def run inside of me to get the bend before me and cut me off. I always ride offensively now and keep to the centre or toward the lines dividing the lanes now after being sick of assholes treating me like a bicycle and overtaking me on single lane roads when there is oncoming traffic. Keeping centre stops them cos they dont have enough room.

[Vivo]

Things I like about my country:


1. Motorcycle Parking





2.  Motorcycle lanes on major thoroughfares





3.  Wearing flip flops while riding....





4.  Legal filtering, lane splitting....

[Peters]

That IS illegal over here   

Watch your position Fshfindr cos i know here if i did that a car WOULD def run inside of me to get the bend before me and cut me off. I always ride offensively now and keep to the centre or toward the lines dividing the lanes now after being sick of assholes treating me like a bicycle and overtaking me on single lane roads when there is oncoming traffic. Keeping centre stops them cos they dont have enough room.

Yep! It's your lane. Claim it

[zombie]

What is that sexy orange bike in #4? A Motobecane?
Oh yeah on topic... Carry a small pistol for the people that have the "rage". Or a large sack of roofing nails. http://www.flickr.com/photos/andhe-roofs/1351405087/#